Cousins played just nine minutes – all in the second quarter – of the Kings' 117-108 loss to the Dallas Mavericks at Sleep Train Arena.

Cousins was benched for the first time this season when healthy and dressed for a game. In December, Smart left Cousins in Sacramento for a road game in Portland as part of a disciplinary action for a verbal altercation in Los Angeles.

Smart offered no reason for benching Cousins and not playing him in the second half.